Skip to content
ThonRetire

Head to head · verified July 2026

Greece vs Thailand

Thailand scores 12 points higher on our balanced view — but that gap is small enough that your own priorities can flip it. The breakdowns below show exactly where each one earns and loses.

Everyday street scene in Greece

GreeceGreece

Mediterranean

77/100

Greece's 7% flat tax is the broadest deal in Europe — it covers all foreign income, not just pensions, for fifteen years. The entry bar is the highest of the Mediterranean set (€3,500/mo or €126k banked) and you must actually live there — 183 days — to keep it. Elderly-care units license under Ν. 2345/1995 — silence can approve; no public list of licensed units was opened. Cheaper than Spain or Italy, with freehold property open to foreigners.

Full Greece guide
Everyday street scene in Thailand

ThailandThailand

Southeast Asia

89/100

Thailand's LTR visa is the country's quiet masterpiece: ten years, foreign income exempt by law (RD743), and some of the best-value private hospitals on earth an hour from the beach. The classic O-A route has gotten harsher — 3M THB insurance is now mandatory — and land stays off-limits; you buy condos or you rent. Elder and dependent-care enterprises sit under the Health Business Establishment Act B.E. 2559 and DHSS licensing; a browsable national register was not opened. PR is technically possible and practically rare.

Full Thailand guide

Side by side

Greece compared with Thailand
CriterionGreeceThailand
Visa & Residency
Retirement visaFIP VisaLTR / Retirement O-A
Minimum ageNone (18+)50+ (LTR-WP & O-A)
Min income / assets€3,500/mo or €126k$80k/yr or 800k THB
Visa processing time~10d visa; permit 2–4 moLTR ~1–2 mo; O-A 2–4 wks
Path to permanent residency5 yrsDifficult
Path to citizenship7 yrs + Greek language exam5 yrs PR then naturalise — very rare
Tax
Tax-residency threshold183 days or vital interests180 days
Tax on foreign pension7%0%
Capital gains tax7% under regime; else 15%Taxed if remitted; LTR-WP exempt
Inheritance / estate tax1–10% (low for close kin)5–10% above 100M THB
Annual property taxENFIA — few hundred €/yrLow — ~0.02–0.3% building tax
Finance & Property
Foreign property ownershipYesCondo only (no land)
Deposit / bond required€3,500/mo income or €126k depositO-A 800k THB; LTR none
Forced-heirship rulesForced heirship; will can elect AU lawNone with a will
Cost to establish residency~€2–4k (€1k permit + legal)O-A ~US$1–2k; LTR 50k THB fee
Living
Cost of living22001800
Healthcare quality7.98.2
Safety7.86.8
Logistics
Flight time from Australia259
Health insurance requiredYesO-A: 3M THB; LTR: $50k policy
Visa renewal ease3-yr permit; needs 183 d/yr stayO-A yearly + 90-day reports; LTR 5+5
Provision for dependentsYes — +20% spouse incomeLTR: spouse + kids <20

Showing the open fields. 17 more criteria — tax-residency day counts, capital gains, forced heirship, setup costs and processing times — need a free Thon account. Sign in to see the full table.

Why Greece scores 77

77/100

Why this number

Every point is accounted for. Nothing is hidden in a weighting you cannot see.

  1. Base country quality81Greece scores 81/100 before anything about you is applied — visa system, tax regime, healthcare, safety and property rights.
  2. Australian passport-4Worse than average for Australian retirees: No AU treaty; long flight
  3. Best fit for you77A decision aid, not a prediction. Two people with the same passport can rank these differently — that is the point of showing the working.
  • No double-tax treaty — Greece has no tax treaty in force with Australia — the same income can be taxed twice unless you structure around it.

Why Thailand scores 89

89/100

Why this number

Every point is accounted for. Nothing is hidden in a weighting you cannot see.

  1. Base country quality84Thailand scores 84/100 before anything about you is applied — visa system, tax regime, healthcare, safety and property rights.
  2. Australian passport+5Better than average for Australian retirees: ~9h from Sydney + AU treaty + superb private hospitals
  3. Best fit for you89A decision aid, not a prediction. Two people with the same passport can rank these differently — that is the point of showing the working.